One of Great Yarmouth’s long-established business names is expanding as it celebrates a musical milestone and tunes into a growing market.
Allen’s Music Centre at the The Boulevard under Market Gates is marking 70 years of trading by opening a new music school to educate the next generation of artists, performers and hobby players.
The family-run business is the main Lowrey organ dealership for the UK and Europe, but still has its musical roots in its home town and wants to cultivate a new crop of musicians and improve footfall in the shopping mall.
Having knocked through into a neighbouring unit owners have created a bright, modern space for tuition and rehearsal with three purpose-built studios, more in tune with modern ideas about safeguarding.
And while learning an instrument will still take practice and diligence, the new music school manager Louise Warnes says young musicians will now have a lovely new safe space in which to learn.
The business started in Broad Row in 1946 and is now one of Yarmouth’s best-known and most resilient names, standing firm and growing while others have fallen away.
Although there is tuition space above the showroom, said to eclipse anything similar further afield, the new music school is aimed at attracting a new wave of clients of all ages.
With so many people asking about classes the decision was made to provide the welcoming space covered by CCTV.
Mrs Warnes, a music teacher of 30 years experience, said Allens had once had a busy school which saw up to 400 pupils a week but the space was needed to take on the Lowrey dealership some years ago.
Learning an instrument she said helped youngsters to focus and gave them a life-long skill which was beneficial in all sorts of areas.
Much of the interest, she added, was coming from the immigrant community with the Chinese and Eastern Europeans being especially musical and keen for their children to play beautifully too.
Allens also hosts Lowrey music sessions for older folk to learn to play as part of the Lowrey programme.
The business has a bank of checked tutors waiting to teach fun learners as well as those seeking more formal qualifications.
Group lessons for children aged three to six take place on Saturdays at 10am, with a free taster session.
Teaching will take place seven days a week and on two evenings and cost £14 for half an hour’s one-to-one and £28 for an hour.
As the pupil roll grows they hope to start group sessions.
To find out more call 01493 842887 or 01493 850172.
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